PRODUCT ROUNDUP Benchtop Test Equipment

New wireless benchtop test systems and
significant improvements to existing ones are coming to market with
increasing rapidity. In its report, World
Wireless Test Equipment Market (www.testandmeasurement.frost.com),
Frost & Sullivan explained the dynamics of this expansion.

The market research firm points out that
increased mobility and Internet access through mobile phones,
coupled with advances such as Long-term evolution (LTE), which can
deliver data at rates up to 100 Mbits/s, challenge wireless
operators to manage their networks effectively and ensure customer
satisfaction. Higher mobile data usage creates more traffic on the
network, leading to increased demand to test for quality of service
(QoS) and quality of experience (QoE).

“Enhanced data usage also triggers
transmission pipeline-related technology changes, such as
conversion from copper to optical technologies,” says
Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Olga Yashkova. This transition
requires testing pipelines at rates up to 100 Gbits/s. Then there
are interoperability issues to deal with as the number of devices
from different vendors proliferates and protocol management will
becomes more complex.

On the flip side of the instrument-user
spectrum, component designers and suppliers need to be sure the
products they create will meet their customers demands, and have to
be working in advance of the market to be ready when the next wave
of new wireless technologies is ready for rollout.

In the following sections, we look at what some
major instrument suppliers have brought to market for various
wireless technologies recently.

Aeroflex

In August, Aeroflex (www.aeroflex.com), announced the
release of 390XOPT604 automatic test and alignment software for
Motorola’s APX 7000 and 7500 mobile radios. The APX
Series radios are dual band and can be configured with any two band
combinations. The application will test and align both bands.
Mobile power alignment is included in this option and alignment
time for both bands on the APX mobile is approximately 16
minutes.

Aeroflex 7100 LTE digital radio test
set

This summer, the company also announced two new
options for its 7100 LTE digital radio test set. The options
support testing of 3G WCDMA/HSPA and GSM/GPRS, and data call
hand-over between LTE and HSPA. As WCDMA network operators migrate
toward LTE, the devices used by their subscribers will need to
operate with legacy 2G and 3G networks as well as new LTE networks,
handing over seamlessly between networks when appropriate. Options
103 and 105 for the facilitate testing of these multimode devices
across all the standards they are required to support, and test
data handover between LTE and HSPA.

At the start of summer, Aeroflex and
fjord-e-design GmbH announced the first implementation of a TETRA
II test system on a portable radio tester, the 3920 digital radio
test set. The test solution allows transmitter and receiver testing
of base stations and mobile stations supporting the TETRA Enhanced
Data Service (TEDS).

Agilent Technologies

Just last month, Agilent Technologies (www.agilent.com) introduced two
solutions for analysis and generation of wide-bandwidth signals
— the industry’s first 160-MHz analysis
bandwidth option for the high-performance PXA signal analyzer and
Signal Studio software for 802.11ac signal creation. Wider
bandwidth signal analysis is necessary to cover all of the
bandwidths supported by 802.11ac and Signal Studio for WLAN
software aids testing by enabling the creation of 802.11ac
waveforms with BCC or LDPC channel coding, all MCS codes, and
single- or multi-user MIMO up to four streams.

In August, Anritsu (www.anritsu.com) introduced
software for its MS269xA and MS2830A series signal analyzers, as
well as its MG3700A vector signal generator, that creates
single-instrument solutions to support the IEEE802.11n/p/a/b/g/j
wireless LAN (WLAN) standards. With the software installed, the
instruments provide developers of WLAN devices, modules and boards
used in home entertainment and automobile onboard wireless systems
with accurate, cost-effective solutions to verify design
performance.

Anritsu MD8475A signalling tester

The previous month, the company introduced the
MD8475A signaling tester, which can test a wide range of
applications and operating systems on the latest high-speed,
multi-mode LTE devices. The tester can simulate 2G, 3G, LTE, and
mixed-generation wireless networks, and lets device manufacturers
conduct end-to-end testing of applications that run on these
networks. An enhanced Wireless Network Simulator (WNS) graphical
user interface enables multi-mode, dual-cell capability, including
handovers between 2G, 3G, and LTE. Since it is Windows 7 based,
server applications can be conveniently installed on the tester,
for easy one-instrument, end-to-end application testing. Up to
eight external servers can be simultaneously linked to the tester
through Ethernet connection as well.

This summer, the company also introduced options
that extend the digital modulation analysis, signal generation, and
coverage mapping capabilities of its LMR Master S412E to meet the
requirements of the ETSI Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Tier 2
protocol. The expanded testing capabilities provide those
responsible for deployment, installation, and maintenance of DMR
radio systems – including MotoTRBO systems –
with a single, lightweight, durable test solution that meets
evolving testing requirements

Audio Precision

In July, Audio Precision (http://ap.com/) announced two new
interface options for its APx500 series audio analyzers: the APx
Bluetooth option for measuring audio over Bluetooth wireless
technology, and the HDMI option with Audio Return Channel (ARC) for
measuring ARC audio in HDMI 1.4a devices. At the same time, version
2.8 of the APx500 software was released to support the new
interfaces, as well as deliver new audio measurements and feature
improvements.

Booton

In June, Boonton, a Wireless Telecom Group (www.wtcom.com) company, launched
the Amplifier Test Bench, a new software package that simplifies
test and certification of RF amplifiers. The software not only
supports analysis of pulsed and linear amplifiers, it also measures
gain over frequency and gain over input power. The software
supports both fast Boonton peak power meters 4540 and 4500B and a
variety of standard generators. No programming knowledge is
required.

Rigol Technologies (www.rigol.com) introduced the
DSA1000A series of 2- and 3-GHz spectrum analyzers, designed to
improve efficiency with a new interface as well as a widescreen
construction, new key layout and feature set. These analyzers are
intended for bench top or field service measurement in the
cellular, education, automotive, wireless and electronic
industries. To save time in instrument set-up and in reacquiring
signals, the spectrum analyzers offer auto-functions and
saving/recalling setups, traces and test states. Weighing less than
15 lbs, these spectrum analyzers are priced starting at $2,999, and
offer optional battery packs capable of 3 hours continuous
operation.

Rigol DSA1000A seires spectrum
analyzers

Rohde & Schwarz

Last month, Rohde & Schwarz (www.rohde-schwarz.com)
introduced the FSW signal and spectrum analyzer which they say
outperforms all comparable high-end instruments on the market in
both RF performance and bandwidth. Available in three models that
cover the frequency ranges of 2 Hz to 8, 13, or 26.5 GHz, the
instrument lets developers view multiple measurement applications
at a glance as well as analyze signal interactions features that
make complex measurement tasks significantly easier.

Rohde & Schwarz FSW signal and
spectrum analyzer

The company also announced last month that the
SMB100A signal generator was moving into the microwave range. The
SMB-B120/B120L and SMB-B140/B140L options (L versions without step
attenuator) enable the generator to cover ranges from 100 kHz to 20
GHz and 40 GHz, respectively. Even at these high frequencies, the
signal source makes no compromises in terms of output power,
spectral purity and cost of ownership.